For more than 30 years, Atlanta has played host to Dragon Con. The annual convention is one of the nation’s largest and it grows every year. Last year, there were over 70K participants. This year, there are 85K badge holders who will descend on downtown Atlanta from Aug. 30-Sept. 3.

The four-day event features panel discussions on the latest science-fiction, fantasy and action books, games, films and TV shows and caps off with a costumed parade down Atlanta’s Peachtree Street. Here are just a few of the 400 guests for Dragon Con 2018:

Mike Colter (Image Source: Used with permission DragonCon Media)

One of Mike Colter’s highest profile roles was in the film Million Dollar Baby,playing boxer Big Willie Little. He has also guest starred on Law & Order: Trial By Jury, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, The Good Wife, ER, and The Parkers, as well as several TV movies. Colter also starred in the series Ringer.

In 2014, Colter began portraying the role of Agent Jameson Locke in the Halo franchise. He starred in the series Halo: Nightfall and provided the motion capture for Agent Locke in Halo 5: Guardians while the voice acting is performed by Ike Amadi.

Most recently, Colter co-starred as Luke Cage in Jessica Jones, on Netflix. The entire first season was released online on November 20, 2015. This was followed by the character’s individual series, Luke Cage, which was released on September 30, 2016. In December 2016, Netflix announced Luke Cage was renewed for a second season.

Christine Adams (Image Source: Used with permission Dragon Con Media)

Christine Adams stars opposite of Cress Williams as Lynn on the CW’s newest DC Comic series “Black Lightning.” Prior to this, she starred alongside David Schwimmer and Jim Sturgess on the AMC series Feed The Beast. The versatile British actor recently portrayed Agent Weaver on the hit ABC series “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”

China McClain (Image Source: Used with permission DragonCon Media)

China McClain’s career began in 2005 when she was 7 years old, acting in the movie The Gospel (2005). She also played China James in Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls (2007), along with Idris Elba and her two sisters. However, she became nationally known after 2007, when she joined the cast of the series Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne” as Jazmine Payne.

She also appears as the main villain Uma in the Disney Channel’s “Descendants 2” (2017), playing Ursula’s daughter. In 2018, McClain began portraying Jennifer Pierce in The CW superhero series “Black Lightning.”

Caleb McLaughlin (Image Source: Used with permission DragonCon Media)

Caleb McLaughlin is a multitalented, actor, singer and dancer- trained in ballet, tap, and jazz. Caleb made his Broadway debut as Young Simba in the Lion King on Broadway, 2012-2014.

McLaughlin is currently starring as Lucas Sinclair on the Netflix Original Series, “Stranger Things.” He can be seen as Jay-Jay on NBC’s “Shades of Blue” starring Jennifer Lopez.

Afua Richardson (Image Source: Used with permission DragonCon Media)

Afua Richardson is an American illustrator best known for her work on the Eisner-winning series “Black Panther: World of Wakanda”. Her works influenced the CG team in the making of the film. Other works include the reader’s choice award mini-series “Genius,” written by Marc Bernardin and Adam Freeman and the American Anthology for Attack on Titan for Kodansha. She is the artist on the sequel to John Lewis and Andrew Aydin’s civil rights graphic novel RUN, published through Abrams Books.

Richard “Ricky” Whittle first came to prominence as a model for Reebok in the early 2000s.

He starred in the CW’s post-apocalyptic drama “The 100,” playing the role of Lincoln, a “Grounder.” Whittle also had a recurring role on VH-1’s “Single Ladies” in 2012. In 2016, Whittle was announced as the lead character, Shadow Moon, in the STARZ television series “American Gods.”

Maurice "Mo" Barnes is a graduate of Morehouse College and Political Scientist based in Atlanta. Mo is also a Blues musician. He has been writing for Rolling Out since 2014. Whether it means walking through a bloody police shooting to help a family find justice or showing the multifaceted talent of the Black Diaspora I write the news.